Three consecutive ties were good enough for North Carolina to punch a ticket to a third straight College Cup.
In the stressful and unpredictable realm of knockout soccer, three straight penalty-kick victories – without a single miss, no less – have demonstrated how important experience can be in the later stages of the college season.
And UNC has it in plenty. Despite losing senior Cameron Brown to a torn ACL before the season began and junior Billy Schuler to an injured shoulder after just two games, the Tar Heels could count upon nine other upperclassmen on their roster heading into the campaign.
[inlinenode:323522]And while senior midfielder Michael Farfan missed several games with an ankle injury, and others like Alex Dixon and Stephen McCarthy all saw time on the sidelines nursing various ailments, UNC has found the right mix of youth and experience to overcome its setbacks and make a run to the College Cup.
When Farfan’s been healthy, he’s been the key to the Tar Heels' success, creating offense from his attacking midfield position. His performances haven’t gone unnoticed, as he was recently named one of the NSCAA Hermann Trophy semifinalists.
UNC head coach Elmar Bolowich noted earlier in the year how important the leadership a group of experienced players can provide.
“We have outstanding leadership on the field and off the field,” he said. “It ensures we have a certain focus when we approach games, don’t have to change a whole lot – we are not constantly searching for answers or new options, we are basically looking at the players and looking at the qualities we have in the players, and our seniors then know how we want to play, and just go out and perform.”
Some young players have also stepped up. Sophomores like midfielder Enzo Martinez and goalkeeper Scott Goodwin remained a constant throughout the season, buoying the team at times when they most needed it. Goodwin, especially, has risen to the occasion of the NCAA Tournament with crucial stops both during the run of play and in the Heels' three PK shootouts.
[inlinenode:323613]This College Cup appearance will mark a third straight for the program. With the national title firmly in sight, UNC is looking to turn two previous disappointing finishes into a triumph. Last year, they lost to Akron on penalty kicks after a 0-0 tie, and the year before that, made it all the way to the title game before losing to ACC rival Maryland.
That experience will give the Tar Heels an edge in their Friday night matchup against No. 1 seed Louisville, as the Cardinals are making a program debut in the College Cup. And, unusually for UNC, they are healthy.
Offensively, the team has struggled to score goals, managing only two in the three tournament games. However, with an organized defense and a hard-working midfield, they are an extremely difficult team to beat.
Being able to control the midfield but struggling to score is the biggest obstacle in front of North Carolina. With McCarthy and Dustin McCarty buzzing in the midfield, breaking up the opposing attack, the pressure is transferred to the front. Finding a goal from Alex Dixon or Kirk Urso against Louisville will be crucial to advancing to the final.
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